Everyone knows to wash their hands and take their vitamins to help avoid getting sick. But boost your chances of stopping cold and flu symptoms in their tracks with more personal health advice for your astrology sign. Lifescript Horoscope Expert Kelli Fox has more…

The fall and winter are such beautiful seasons, but for many of us they’re often marred by sniffles, head colds, sore throats or a full-blown flu.

With more than 200 known common cold viruses, nobody is completely immune to catching a bug. But there are certain things each sign can do to help minimize the risk – and to feel better faster if you do find yourself ill.

Keep cold and flu symptoms at bay with these health tips for your astrology sign.

Tips to stop cold and flu symptoms for Aries (March 21 – April 19)
Being sick slows Aries down, and that’s one thing you can’t stand! Because you’re always in such a hurry, you’re more prone than some other signs to germ exposure – it takes time to wash your hands regularly, and that’s time you don’t always take.

Paying more attention to basic hygiene is a major step toward reducing the risk of colds and flu. It really is that simple! Your diet can be helpful too, especially since you love strongly-spiced foods. Garlic may be helpful in keeping colds at bay, so add liberal amounts to your cooking.

Tips to stop cold and flu symptoms for Taurus (April 20 – May 20)
As an Earth sign, comfort is extremely important to you, so you suffer more than most when colds and flu get you down. Taurus rules the throat, so you’re especially vulnerable to strep throat and other illness in that area.

The biggest change you could make to help avoid colds and flu is to exercise more. Yes, it’s cold and wet outside, but did you know that regular moderate exercise will boost your metabolism and immune system? When you exercise, the level of natural killer cells rises, and stays high for 36 hours – so keep moving, Taurus, to keep infections away.

Tips to stop cold and flu symptoms for Gemini (May 21 – June 20)
Sociable Gemini loves to be around people – but with infectious colds and flu, the more people you’re around, the greater the chance you’ll catch something you’d rather not. You don’t have to lock yourself away, but avoid chatting with strangers who are obviously ill.

Geminis often don’t sleep well, since your busy mind is so active, but getting plenty of rest is a key factor in helping you stay healthy. Avoid late nights and burnout this winter if you want a strong immune system. Regular sleep has been shown to boost your immune system and can affect your recovery time if you do get sick.

Tips to stop cold and flu symptoms for Cancer (June 21 – July 22)
As a Cancer, you worry a lot about your health – but then again, you worry a lot about almost everything. Ironically, it’s your stress levels that put you most at risk of catching a cold or flu. Because you’re constantly run down and under emotional strain, your body rarely gets a chance to be as healthy as it can be. Moods affect our ability to fight infections, so if you’re feeling down, you’re more likely to be hit – and will find it harder to shake off a cold once you have one.

Help avoid colds and flu winter with meditation to help calm your mind – and do more of what makes you happy.

Tips to stop cold and flu symptoms for Leo (July 23 – Aug. 22)
Your warm and sunny personality is obvious to all who know you – what’s less obvious, perhaps, is that warmth can be the key to avoiding colds and flu. Of course, being cold doesn’t invite a cold, but it is true that shivering compromises our immune systems, and that disrupted levels of the hormones melatonin and serotonin, caused by the lack of sunlight, make us more susceptible to infection.

You’re the sign most likely to suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder now, which also increases the risk of colds and flu. Wrap up warm to keep yourself healthy, but avoid overheated rooms and overcrowded places where germs spread more easily.

Tips to stop cold and flu symptoms for Virgo (Aug. 23 – Sept. 22)
Virgos are typically very health conscious and scrupulous about hygiene. Unfortunately, this doesn’t exempt you from catching colds and flu along with the rest of us.

You’re interested in alternative health, so herbal preventative measures such as echinacea tea are perfect for you. Research other homeopathic remedies to help you nip a cold in the bud before it takes hold. Vitamin C may help prevent colds and flu, so include plenty of citrus fruits, red peppers and leafy green vegetables in your diet. For you, it’s all about natural prevention and cures; shy away from anything too medicinal.

Tips to stop cold and flu symptoms for Libra (Sept. 23 – Oct. 22)
A combination of not enough sleep and exercise and too much stress can be unfortunate for Libra, and your immune system is under a lot of pressure during winter. In order to help combat these issues, look into acupuncture –some evidence suggests that regular acupuncture helps lower susceptibility to colds and flu, and you’ll enjoy the experience too.

A healthy diet is important for Libra at all times, but especially during cold and flu season, so eat well and incorporate probiotics into your daily regimen. Studies have shown that these “friendly bacteria” can improve the body’s resistance to bacterial and viral infections.

Tips to stop cold and flu symptoms for Scorpio (Oct. 23 – Nov. 21)
Scorpio is a strong and feisty sign, but not even you can keep germs at bay all during this season. Although your passionate, deep nature keeps the atmosphere around you charged, one thing that does increase your risk of colds and flu is a very dry environment. You love to stay warm, and you typically have your heating cranked up high – but this dries out the protective mucus in your nasal passages, lowering your defenses and adversely affecting your respiratory system.

Turn the heat down and wear extra layers instead, or invest in a humidifier. Failing that, invest in a humidifier to keep the air you breathe moist.

Tips to stop cold and flu symptoms for Sagittarius (Nov. 22 – Dec. 21)
Since you love the outdoors so much, you’re frequently wet and muddy now. This won’t make you catch a cold, of course, but if you’re already harboring a virus, it will make the effects worse and you may take longer to recover. The solution is not to give up your active lifestyle – far from it – but to take sensible precautions and to warm up as soon as you can.

Don’t be a hero; if you start to feel unwell, don’t just ignore it, take care of yourself. Try taking zinc supplements to help keep a cold at bay – if you do succumb, there’s some evidence that zinc lozenges can help shorten the misery and speed recovery too.

Tips to stop cold and flu symptoms for Capricorn (Dec. 22 – Jan. 19)
The biggest annoyance for you when you get a cold is that it keeps you from working. You have a very down-to-earth approach to health, however, and will try to plow on regardless. You don’t have a great deal of patience with alternative therapies and herbal remedies, and you don’t have a lot of faith in your ability to avoid a cold, either.

Your approach is more to just buy an over-the-counter remedy once a cold strikes and then get on with it. Fair enough, but increasing the amount of sleep you get and moderately exercising will help you keep germs at bay without having to drink any weird teas or do anything that takes you out of your comfort zone.

Tips to stop cold and flu symptoms for Aquarius (Jan. 20 – Feb. 18)
As an Aquarius, you’re deeply mistrustful of the health-care industry, and you probably avoid the medical profession as much as possible – no flu shots for you. Instead, you like to try an eclectic mixture of herbal preventions, vitamin supplements, garlic and a healthy diet, while crossing your fingers and hoping for the best. It’s surprisingly effective when coupled with good hygiene and lots of hand washing, but do take care not to get too cold this winter. When you’re cold, you’re miserable, and when you’re miserable, you’re vulnerable.

A positive attitude, some warm and cozy clothes and a blend of preventive measures should keep the worst of this season’s illnesses away.

Tips to stop cold and flu symptoms for Pisces (Feb. 19 – March 20)
You have a low drug tolerance, Pisces, and can be adversely affected by both flu shots and over-the-counter medicines, so it’s important to try to avoid colds and flu without resorting to medical help.

One very simple thing you can do to help, especially being a Water sign, is to drink more water. Your mucus membranes don’t work as efficiently as they should if you’re dehydrated. Another change you can make is to try Qigong. A University of Virginia study found that this Chinese exercise system can help regulate breathing and prevent respiratory infections; plus, you’ll love it!

Kelli Fox is a certified astrologer, co-founder of The Astrologer Inc. (www.theastrologer.com) and Lifescript horoscope expert. Kelli is a member the American Federation of Astrologers, National Council for Geocosmic Research and International Society for Astrological Research. In 1995, Kelli founded Astrology.com, which became the largest astrology website. She currently publishes daily horoscopes and planetary updates, annual forecasts and compatibility reports for The Astrologer and her iPhone app, "Today's Horoscope."